Consider a Boat!

This here's the shit!

I just got back from a trip to Oshima island, a little south of Tokyo. I'll post about that soon enough, but what I wanted to share is that since coming to Japan, it's pretty much been my first time using any kind of seafaring transportation, and the trip has opened my eyes to the whole thing. My adventure riding second class on the (sigh) S.S. Salvia, a ship with a name sounding a lot worst than it actually is, and having nothing related to hallucinogenic drugs, taught me a lot of the joy of traveling around in Japan by boat. So let's break it down.

Where the corpses go.

It's relatively easy to forget that Japan's composed of hundreds, maybe thousands of little islands outside of the main landmass. Though they're mostly accessible by means of the train system, some of them are pretty remote. That's where the ferries come in, and they do a pretty good job at it. Though I've only taken one for a relatively short trip, some are available that cruise from one province to another over the course of many days. No matter the size of your trip, though, the ships are equipped for comfortable traveling (proportional to the amount you're willing to pay) and even a little extra.
 When it comes to traveling overnight, all the ferries provide you the option of either sleeping on the ground with a pillow (for the cheapest fare,) a seat, a dorm room, or a private room. The ships are also equipped with showering facilities, and some even offer restaurants and, from what I hear, public baths as well. Of course, the longer the duration of the trip, the more room there is for a little luxury. There are plenty of televisions available for those who need their fix, and simple distractions such as a deck of cards or boardgames are sold on board.
 My favorite thing about riding the ferry, though, is probably the simple pleasure of standing on deck and enjoying the sea breeze while looking out at the horizon. You just don't get that elsewhere!